Century has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with plenty of rain
A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 22°, and about 47 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Century at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Century’s climate
Read from where Century sits among West Virginia’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Century averaged 1.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.4°).
A bigger shift than in 58% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
47 inches of snow, 49 of rain and melt
July is the wettest month and November the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 155 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
What a year in Century feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 173 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 29 and the first by October 20.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Living with Century’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
173 frost-free days. The last frost comes by Apr 29 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 20.
About 47" a winter over 17 days with an inch or more, most in January. Snow covers the ground about 38 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 87% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 11 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 83°.
The nicest months are May, June, July, August, September and October.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →How Century compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in West Virginia.
Century weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 22° | 3.7" | 16.3" | 17 | 14 | 23° – 39° |
| February | 44° | 25° | 3.4" | 9.1" | 13 | 9 | 22° – 43° |
| March | 52° | 32° | 4.2" | 8.7" | 15 | 5 | 36° – 52° |
| April | 65° | 40° | 4.2" | 0.5" | 14 | 0 | 46° – 58° |
| May | 73° | 49° | 5.0" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 54° – 69° |
| June | 80° | 57° | 5.0" | 0 | 13 | 0 | 64° – 71° |
| July | 83° | 61° | 5.4" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 68° – 76° |
| August | 82° | 60° | 4.0" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 67° – 75° |
| September | 77° | 53° | 3.7" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 62° – 71° |
| October | 66° | 42° | 3.5" | 0.3" | 10 | 0 | 50° – 59° |
| November | 54° | 33° | 3.1" | 2.6" | 12 | 2 | 37° – 49° |
| December | 44° | 27° | 3.9" | 9.0" | 15 | 8 | 25° – 47° |
| Year | 63° | 42° | 49.1" | 46.5" | 155 | 38 |
Heating and cooling a home in Century
87% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 25° to 47°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Century’s climate
What is the coldest month in Century?
January, with a typical high of 40° and a low of 22°.
What is the hottest month in Century?
July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 61°. About 11 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Century get?
About 47 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Century?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 20, and the last spring frost by April 29.
What is the rainiest month in Century?
July, with 5.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 49 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Century.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Century itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Philippi, WV (9 mi, snow) and Buckhannon, WV (8 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.